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With the Little League World Series champions from Japan at Shea, and with the Mets down by a run in the eighth, veteran Tsuyoshi Shinjo watchers knew he would turn to his higher level of concentration.

Even though Giant set-up man Felix Rodriguez is tougher on righties than Alan Colmes, Shinjo observers knew Rodriguez had no chance.

Shinjo pulled a 425-foot homer to tie the game. It didn’t matter, though, because not only did the Mets go on to lose 6-5 but the Japanese Little Leaguers had already left to attend a banquet.

“I just wanted to do well because of the Little League kids,” Shinjo said through a translator. “When I got to home plate, they were gone.”

Shinjo pointed to where the kids were sitting in tribute. It was just another example of Mr. Shinjo rising to the occasion.

“Shinjo’s done a heck of job late-inning, close games,” Valentine said. “He’s done as well as anyone on our team.”

The Little Leaguers already had received a Shinjo show. In the fourth, Shinjo originally turned the wrong way before recovering at the warning track as John Vander Wal led off the inning by driving a ball to the center-field wall.

Shinjo leaped up to make a nice, jumping catch of the ball that probably would’ve hit the top of the wall, but might’ve gone out.

Before the game, the Little Leaguers met with Shinjo and Valentine on the field. The Mets gave the Little Leaguers a variety of presents, including shirts, hats and Mookie Wilson bobblehead dolls.

“I’m proud of you guys for winning the championship,” Shinjo told the kids in Japanese. “One day, I hope, that one of you guys or some of you guys will play for either the Hanshin Tigers or the New York Mets.”

In Japan, Shinjo first became known for going to a higher level of concentration in close games with Hanshin.